Dear Friends!

Brand-new Cameron Hughes Wine releases are rolling into both the Scottsdale and Mesa Costco stores this weekend beginning Friday, September 5th. We’ve got several new CHW releases that are drinking great right now as well as some spectacular cellar selections.

We’ll have CHW personnel in the store throughout the weekend to answer any of your questions on these new releases but as usual we highly recommend you take them home and pop and pour and get to know these wines for yourself! (though be careful of the two Cabernets – they are drinkable but have such a bright future its almost a sin to drink them now – especially Lot 73 which is super-tight right now but will be glorious in another year or two)

These stores will not be getting identical allocations so here’s the skinny on who’s getting what:

Mesa: Lot 66 Pinto Grigio, Lot 72 Meritage, Lot 75 Cabernet, Lot 91 Chardonnay

Scottsdale: Lot 73 Cabernet, Lot 43 Zinfandel, Lot 91 Chardonnay, Lot 50 Riesling

Now for some greater detail on these fine wines…

Lot 73 2006 Chalk Hill, Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
One man’s Loss is another mans Gain. This gorgeous cabernet comes to us from a Chalk Hill vineyard (not to be confused with Chalk Hill Winery) called Windsor Vineyard (not to be confused with Windsor Vineyards, the private label producers). If you are not totally confused yet you will discover a wine of exceptionally conscientious growers growing grapes for a variety of ultra-premium programs. Lucky for us they found themselves freed from a crappy contract on their entire Cabernet production and proposed to make the wine for us. 2006 is our first vintage and I couldn’t be happier with this powerfully structured, hillside cabernet. Cellar this puppy (or store it in your closet – works just fine).

Lot 72 2005 Napa Valley Meritage
Lot 72 highlights what is best about the Meritage designation, namely flexibility. We started this project with some very pricey Cabernet made by a prestigious Napa Estate dating back to the 70’s and improved it with two fantastic 2005 Napa Merlot’s which, due to be outside the “buy cycle” for bulk wines, we got for a song. This wine is ready to drink now and is a total crowd pleaser. Be forewarned that ofall our new releases this wine has sold out first in stores as it’s drinking wonderfully and is priced to buy by the case.

Lot 75 2006 Napa Valley "Oak Knoll" Cabernet Sauvignon
This is big and chewy with fine-grained tannins. Another stunning cellar selection yet a fun wine to pop and pour and get to know now. We made a huge score in the Oak Knoll district with this wine and additionally a merlot that will be released in the Fall.

Lot 66 2006 Veneto Pinot Grigio
A perfect white wine for summertime sipping! It is bright, crisp, clean, and most importantly, refreshing. Upon initial taste, lemon and melon engulf your palate along with a noticeable but restrained hazelnut and banana on the finish.

Lot 91 2007 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
The first of several upcoming RRV releases made by a world-famous Russian River Valley producer. Combining 50% barrel fermentation with 80% new oak this is a richer style RRV Chard but still a non-malolactic style. Creamy/toasty from the new oak but not an overtly buttery style, this wine will age gracefully for years to come.

Lot 43 Dry Creek Zinfandel *Wine Enthusiast Best Buy!
The nose smacks of boysenberry, raspberry and plum and is underpinned with black pepper notes that will become more forward as the zin and syrah continue to meld in the bottle. The palate is fleshy and ripe and full-bodied showing raspberry fruit and vanilla oak.

Lot 50 Riesling (Mosul, Germany)
Pretty nose of nectarine, melon, and floral notes. Like biting into a fresh white peach, juicy fruit balanced with crisp acidity. The sweet fruit lingers among tingling acidity and the finish is surprising long and sustained. The finish is all white peach and nectarine.

Other CHW lots still remaining in additional Arizona stores so please use our  lot locator for a complete listing of available Cameron Hughes wines.

Cheers!

Cameron